After a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year, director Nick Sanford’s The Harvesters will premiere at the Landmark Regent in the Westwood area of Los Angeles on October 18th. If you live in the area and are intrigued by that news, then read on to get the full picture.

From the Press Release:They’ve been watching. They’ve been waiting. And now, you finally get to see them…

Broadcast Pictures and Flicks for Fans are thrilled to announce the world premiere of THE HARVESTERS (official website here). This frightening new tale of terror is written and directed by Nick Sanford. After an attention-grabbing $33,000 Kickstarter campaign earlier this year, this modern tale of terror will premiere on October 18, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, at the Landmark Regent in Westwood. Doors open at 7:00 pm, and the movie begins at 8:00 pm.

Flicks for Fans will host the premiere of the film, giving fans a “more than just a movie” experience, including a Q&A with the cast and crew, prizes for audience members, and all sorts of Halloween-related insanity for a night that movie fans will never forget. The premiere is FREE and open to the public.

The film is notable for being set and filmed completely in Oklahoma, writer-director Nick Sanford’s home state, a state not normally known for grassroots, large-scale micro-budget horror films. It was shot in Purcell, Tuttle, Newcastle, Bridge Creek, and Moore, Sanford’s home town.

The producers include Laurie Cummings (Blueberry Hall), Paul Lister (By Dawn), Andrew McDonald (Thai Food), and James Oster (aka JimmyO, Sick for Toys); the director of photography is Matt Bauske (Hellraiser X: Judgment, Children of the Corn: Runaway), and the composer is Jonathan Paulsen (Hunt the Truth, Tempus Fugit).

Synopsis:
On Halloween in Baileyville, Oklahoma, Jane, a journalist who prides herself on objective reporting, discovers that she is trapped in the middle of a series of horrifying murders and disappearances. When the terror intensifies and a countdown begins, the people closest to Jane are put in danger, and her journalistic stance on “not becoming the story” is put to the ultimate test.

With its mix of murder, mystery, and marijuana, horror comedy Halloweed looks to be just what Dr. Feelgood ordered for the Halloween season. It contains appearances by genre faves Ray Wise, Danny Trejo, Tom Sizemore, and yes, even Jason Mewes.

Here’s what else you can expect if you opt to light it up; along with release info, we have the flick’s trailer, several stills, and a trio of posters.

From the Press Release:He who has the weed has the power…

The official release trailer and three versions of the VOD poster for Halloweed are available now, courtesy of Screen Media Films, and the DVD release date has been set for November 8, 2016, announced the filmmaking team of Roberto Rosario, Jr., and Jayson Bernard of J&R Productions. Rosario executive produced, and Bernard produced the film along with co-producers Tatiana Chekhova, Jamie Trent, and LazRael Lison, who directed.

Halloweed is a comedy/stoner/slasher/mystery genre hybrid, starring Simon Rex, Shannon Brown, Jim O’Heir, Michelle Mueller, Jayson Bernard, Ray Wise, Jason Mewes, Deje Dee, Lester Speight, Danny Trejo, and Tom Sizemore. Written by Dale Zawada based on a story by Michael Bussan, it will be released on all VOD platforms and Cable On Demand by Screen Media Films on October 18th.

“Halloweed is an homage to the slasher horror films I grew up with combined with the fun of buddy comedies and stoner films, with a bit of classic John Waters-inspired twisted humor added to the mix,” said Bernard. “Roberto and I had been looking for a comedy to produce as our first feature for J&R Productions, and when the project came our way, we knew this was the one,” he added.

“Jayson and I formed J&R Productions in Chicago and moved to California to set up shop when we started production on Halloweed,” said Rosario, Jr. “We have the best of both worlds now, with access to the immense pool of talent LA has to offer in front of and behind the camera, plus our longstanding relationships with the talented people in Chicago. We are thrilled that Screen Media Films is getting Halloweed out in such a big way.”

Synopsis:Trent Modine and his goofball stepbrother, Joey, try to escape the infamy that comes from having a serial killer, The Candy Corn Killer, for a father (Tom Sizemore). Seeking a new start, they find refuge in the small town of Mooseheart. It does not take long before the besmirched family name catches up to them. Joey, a free-spirited stoner, and Trent, a lovesick pessimist, look like the main suspects after a string of murders, similar to a rash of killings 20 years earlier, coincidentally begins just as they arrive in town. It is a race against time because a slash-happy killer clown on the loose, and the bodies are piling up!

Pandorica, a horror/sci-fi hybrid (and who doesn’t love those?), is crash landing in limited theaters, On Demand, and on DVD next month; and we have all you need to know about it right here, including several stills, character posters, and the official trailer.

From the Press Release:John Carpenter meets Predator in writer-director Tom Paton’s multi-genre mixer PANDORICA, which combines the classic elements of sci-fi, horror, suspense, and action, resulting in a cocktail of a visually-stunning and relentlessly thrilling indie surprise.

PANDORICA is set in a world that’s plunged into a new dark age where humanity devolves into a vicious, primal state. A trio of youths – Eiren, Ares, and Thade – have been selected to take part in the leadership trials of The Varosha Tribe, with the winner claiming the tribe for him/herself. They must battle dark and mysterious forces if one of them is to win, but not everyone is worthy of becoming a leader, and the trio soon learn that fighting each other may be the only path to victory.

Starring an electric ensemble including Adam Bond, Marc Zammit, Jade Hobday, Amed Hashimi, Luke D’Silva, and Bentley Kalu, PANDORICA is being released in limited theaters, On Demand, and on DVD October 11, 2016.

The 16-bit horror game Camp Sunshine now has a listing on Steam ahead of its release later this year. We interviewed the developers earlier this year, and we’ve been incredibly excited for this retro-style blood-soaked game since, so we’re thrilled that it’s nearly here.

Synopsis Camp Sunshine is a 16-bit blood-soaked Horror RPG that pits you as Jez, who is dropped off at Summer Camp. He awakes in the middle of the night to discover blood everywhere and a rampaging killer on the loose dressed in a mascot costume. It’s up to you to piece together the puzzle, and relive the past of the Summer Camp Slasher in order to put a stop to this night of terror!

Discover and explore an entire Summer Camp. Beautiful hand-drawn 16-bit graphics. A fantastic story-driven narrative. Unique lighting mechanics that really set the atmosphere. Don’t run out of batteries for your torch! Find the diary pages to discover the history of Isaac Illerman. Avoid the Serial Slasher, two hits and it’s game over! Lots of scares, spooky scenes and nods to famous franchises! Devious puzzles to tax your brain box.

He may have now been on this planet for 72 years, but when it comes to balls-to-the-wall action, Danny Trejo certainly still has it in him. Who else would you want to lead what remains of humanity against an army of killer robots? Which is exactly what he does in the new film Cyborg X from director K. King.

It’s now available on DVD from Amazon UK, and you can also dig the pretty brutal NSFW trailer below. We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything about a US release.

Synopsis: The year is 2018, one year after a deadly Cyber Virus has infiltrated and seized control of X-Corp, a top secret and highly advanced weapons manufacturer. Now the world is an apocalyptic wasteland of death and destruction. What’s left of the human race is hunted down and destroyed by X-Corp’s ground units (an army of Cyborgs and Battle Drones).

In order to save themselves and all of mankind from extinction, a small group of fighters band together in their quest to fight back. Armed with a new piece of counter intelligence, big guns, and lots of bullets, they set off on a suicidal mission to penetrate X-Corp’s head facility and shut the machines down from the source. But once inside they soon discover there may be more to the Cyber Virus than initially realized.

The horror on demand service Shudder is getting set to bring big scares to its subscribers this coming October, the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else, including some new TV series additions.

Read on for the details, and be sure to hit the link below to learn even more about the service.

From the Press Release:The AMC-backed streaming service Shudder.com is THE entertainment destination for everything you need to watch this Halloween season. Whether you’re a hardcore horror fan or simply looking for the scariest films to celebrate this time of year, Shudder has something for everyone in its sweeping library, carefully curated by some of the top horror experts in the world.

As Halloween approaches, Shudder is expanding its database with a variety of new titles including cult favorites, blockbuster hits, and classic thrillers. Additionally, for the first time ever, Shudder will be offering horror TV series to complement its expansive film library.

Premiering October 20th is supernatural thriller “Beyond the Walls.” Shudder’s first exclusive acquisition is a three-part French miniseries that follows a woman who discovers a parallel world behind the wall of her recently inherited home. The series takes viewers on a frightening and mysterious adventure into a world where old wounds never heal.

Additionally, all 83 episodes of the classic George Romero-produced series “Tales from the Darkside” will keep you up at night with an anthology of chilling ghost stories, spooky science fiction adventures, and other creepy features.

For those new to the service or those looking to celebrate the season, the “Horror Essentials” collection includes the must-see titles on Shudder, perfect for the growing horror fan or for your all-night Halloween marathon.

Choose from Shudder’s lineup of upcoming October titles… if you dare:

October 1
“Tales from the Darkside” – The Complete Series (1983-1988) – ONLY ON SHUDDER

Following 2010’s riot of a found footage creature feature Trollhunter, Norwegian director Andre Ovredal returns with his English language debut, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, which recently screened at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Trading in his humor-laden, fantastical approach for more traditional horror fare, Ovredal delivers a film that is mostly effective, though it is not without its problems.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe follows father-son coroner team Austin and Tony Tilden (Hirsch and Cox, respectively) as they receive the body of a beautiful young homicide victim with no clear cause of death. Attempting to uncover how she died, the Tildens begin to perform an autopsy on the deceased, slowly revealing clues that become more and more bizarre as the night goes on. As inexplicable happenings begin to unfold in their family morgue, the coroners begin to suspect that there is something very special about the circumstances that led to their Jane Doe’s death.

Though it is very much a straightforward horror film, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is also very concerned with the theme of family, with a story that is heavily focused on Cox and Hirsch’s relationship. Screenwriters Ian B. Goldberg and Richard Naing do a solid job of developing a believable and enjoyable father-son dynamic between Cox and Hirsch from the get-go as we are introduced to the ins and outs of Austin and Tony’s autopsy sessions and the quirks of their practice. Though it is occasionally the case that such seasoned actors might opt to phone in their performances in such genre projects, Cox and Hirsch both deliver above and beyond here, digging deep emotionally in some of the more intense scenes far more than would be expected in this type of film.

Boasting a plot that is rather unique, The Autopsy of Jane Doe starts off particularly strong; the introduction of the mystery of Jane Doe’s death is immediately intriguing, and as the discoveries grow stranger, it is very easy to find yourself pondering the myriad possibilities that might ultimately explain what the truth really is. Are naturally bizarre or supernaturally malevolent forces at work here? Ovredal’s careful hand initially keeps you unsure, relying on an effective ambiguity that sets a very unsettling tone. Unfortunately, once the truth begins to surface, the script itself becomes one of the film’s most problematic traits. In its second half, some of the exchanges between Cox and Hirsch grow far too expository and even silly, though both actors commit wholly to even the weaker material here. There are also some turns of plot that are much too convenient for a film like this that otherwise has a lot of original ideas going for it.

Given that the film is set almost entirely in the the Tilden family morgue, Ovredal succeeds in establishing a very claustrophobic atmosphere, especially in the more deliberately paced and slowly revelatory autopsy scenes. Though he delivers some truly chilling imagery throughout, the director’s ultimate over-reliance on run-of-the-mill scare tactics is what truly prevents The Autopsy of Jane Doe from elevating to a wholly novel horror experience. There are times when the scares here reminded me heavily of Anthony DiBlasi’s Last Shift run through a “James Wan lite” filter. One particular moment of misdirection in a very intense elevator scene left me feeling especially frustrated, mostly because we have seen it done a million times before (and to greater effect in other films). For a director that gave us such a refreshing and fun take on the genre with his previous effort, it is a shame to see his Stateside debut peppered with so many overly used devices.

Still, what The Autopsy of Jane Doe lacks in genuine jump-out-of-your-seat thrills, it makes up for in outright squirm-inducing practical effects. The autopsy scenes are just the perfect amount of icky, and the accompanying sound design will leave you cringing… in the best way. Ovredal’s marked focus on Jane Doe’s truly terrifying corpse also sets an increasingly menacing tone to the film that helps it overcome its shortcomings elsewhere. Jane Doe herself (Olwen Kelly) becomes a surprisingly commanding presence in the film for a corpse, and you will no doubt see her cloudy, glazed over eyes in your nightmares for weeks to come.

Despite its flaws and occasional moments of directorial regression for Ovredal, The Autopsy of Jane Doe provides enough of a unique spin on the story it ultimately tells to certainly be worth a watch. It is most definitely the kind of horror film that is best enjoyed if you leave your expectations at the door and just commit to taking the fun, quirky, and occasionally surprising ride.

Had a chance to catch The Autopsy of Jane Doe? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter!

We really liked director Thommy Hutson’s The Id (review here), which you can soon pass your own judgement on when it hits Blu-ray next month.

From the Press Release:Hutson Ranch Media and Panic Ventures, Inc., are pleased to announce that the independent feature film The Id will have its Blu-ray home video release on Tuesday, October 25, 2016.

The psychological thriller tells the story of Meridith Lane (Amanda Wyss, A Nightmare on Elm Street), a woman who has felt trapped in her home. Thriving on memories of youth, she watches the years slip by while caring for her abusive father… until a figure from her past makes a surprising return. In order to live the life she desires, Meridith must confront her father’s monstrous cruelty and attempt to escape his tyrannical grip. But the man who controls her every move won’t let go without a fight, leading father and daughter into a series of desperate and irreversible acts.

“So much passion and energy went into the making of this film, and I am thrilled audiences will soon be able to experience the drama, suspense, and horrors of this story,” says director and producer Thommy Hutson. “I believe it’s a film that will pull viewers in, make them think, make them uncomfortable, and hopefully, have them talking about the events and characters long after the credits have rolled. As a producer, it was a fantastic experience working with amazing talent and an incredible crew. As a first-time director, I’m ecstatic I was able to bring this kind of story to the screen.”

“Working on The Id gave me the chance to play one of the most challenging roles of my career, a character with so many layers and nuances that it was an emotional journey on and off the screen,” admits actress Amanda Wyss. “I can’t wait for people to see the film, go on Meridith’s wild ride, and jump into the delicious stew of madness!”

On producing the film, Daniel Farrands states, “It was a remarkable journey from script to screen. Were it not for the drive, determination, talent, and sheer force of will of Thommy, Amanda, and our incredible cast and the crew, this project simply would not have come to fruition. It was a true labor of love for everyone involved, and it is extremely gratifying to see this mind-bender of a film be brought to audiences around the world.”

In addition to the feature film, the Blu-ray boasts a generous complement of bonus features, including a making-of featurette, audio commentary, deleted and alternate scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, audition clips, a photo gallery, and trailers.

“We worked very hard to put together a package that would showcase not just the film, but the hard work, dedication, and fun that went into making it,” explains Hutson.

Those looking to get their hands on a copy of the film prior to the general release date can do so by pre-ordering from Dark Delicacies. The genre bookstore will hold signing with cast and crew on Sunday, October 23, at 2pm and will ship signed orders to anyone outside the Los Angeles area. The film is also currently available for pre-order through Amazon.com.

After the pre-release signing event, the film will be released to the general public on October 25th by CAV Distributing Corp. with a list price of $24.95.

The Id is directed by Hutson from a script by Sean H. Stewart and is produced by Hutson and Farrands, who previously teamed up on the romantic drama The Trouble with the Truth starring Lea Thompson and several award-winning documentaries, including Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th and Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy.

Our buddies over at HalloweenCostumes.com have put together an infographic that’s NOT clowning around! Read on for a visual look at some of television and cinema’s most frightening clowns!

They’re all there, kids! From Pennywise to Frowny to Twisty and everything in between. Did they leave someone off? Has an evil clown gone unheralded? Find out by checking out the following sliver of terrifying eye candy that’s likely to send people with Coulrophobia straight to the emergency room!

One of the most valuable resources around for those looking to become part of the genre, the BloodList just put out an announcement for those of you out there looking to foster your inner Carpenters, Raimis, and Kings! Read on for the skinny!

From the Press Release:BloodList is on the hunt for “Fresh Blood.” The popular screenwriter-discovery platform is now open to submissions from emerging horror and dark-genre writers.

Writers are encouraged to submit a screenplay, pilot, book, or short film to BloodList.com for consideration in this year’s Fresh Blood section. Content must be uploaded by October 7, 2016, and submissions to BloodList.com are free. The list will be announced on Halloween weekend, October 26, 2016.

The annual BloodList was founded in 2009 and has become the industry standard in recognizing “dark” voices in the screenwriting world. Working Hollywood executives vote on the list, with an eye toward finding their next project. Produced scripts featured on BloodList include: The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Arrival, Stoker, The Boy Next Door, Patient Zero, The Voices, Warm Bodies, and Maggie.

“BloodList shines a light on exemplary genre writing, which is where some of the most innovative and challenging work is being done. But like comedy, horror and science fiction are often overlooked as categories for sublime writing. Without this curated list, buyers would miss out on writers who’ve built the rare breed of a well-crafted story wrapped in a commercial package. Each year’s top entries are like a masterclass in storytelling” – Eric Heisserer, writer/executive producer of Arrival (aka Story of Your Life from BloodList 2014) and writer/producer of Lights Out.

“Our business isn’t physically accessible to everyone, and there are plenty of talented writers and creators looking for new ways to get discovered in the horror, thriller, and sci-fi space. I want BloodList to be their platform,” says Kailey Marsh, founder of BloodList.com and Kailey Marsh Media.

With the success of shorts turned features such as Lights Out and low-budget films such as Don’t Breathe making a splash at the box office, horror has the light shining on it once again.